Held in Cork and Cobh during EMD, the activities coincided with the culmination of the Partnership’s cycle of regional events and highlighted how expert cooperation and local engagement can help Atlantic coastal regions thrive under sustainable ocean economies.

Regional Workshop: ‘Blue Economy for the All Atlantic’

On 21 May, the Partnership gathered over 100 participants from Europe and the wider Atlantic basin for its fifth and last regional workshop of the Partnership’s first cycle. The event was organised in cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate-General on Innovation and the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, supported by the OKEANO CSA.

Opening remarks from representatives of the European Commission, the Marine Institute, and the Partnership set the stage for dialogue on complementarity with EU strategies, including Mission Ocean and Waters and the Atlantic Action Plan. Speakers underlined the importance of aligning science, policy, and investment to support transitions in ocean governance, digitalisation, and climate adaptation, particularly through locally tailored and community-informed approaches.

In the panel discussion, experts highlighted:

• The importance of community-driven planning and co-design;
• The potential of economic diversification and natural capital accounting;
• The role of bottom-up collaboration through platforms like the EU Blue Forum;
• And the need for land-sea integration in policy and planning.

Several speakers also noted persistent gaps, particularly in financing models, cross-disciplinary training, and engagement with underrepresented stakeholders such as industry, insurers, and banks.

The second half of the workshop invited participants to explore three focus areas in a World Café format, where conversations revolved around international cooperation, nature-based solutions and coastal infrastructure, and social aspects of resilience. Namely, participants noted the necessity of adaptive, culturally sensitive governance; existing barriers to inclusive participation, especially among women in small-scale fisheries; and challenges posed by community fragmentation and low public engagement. On the topic of nature-based solutions, participants also drew attention to success stories from Ireland demonstrating community-led stewardship.

Illustration by Robyn Deasy

Cobh Side Event: ‘Coastal Success through Ocean Knowledge’

On 20 May, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership co-organised a workshop with the Cobh & Harbour Chamber, EurOcean, JPI Oceans, and the Marine Institute, under an ‘European Maritime Day In My Country’ initiative. Designed to engage businesses in ocean sustainability practices, the evening gathered marine experts, business owners, policymakers and students to explore how ocean knowledge and literacy can support sustainable economic growth in coastal communities.

Majbritt Bolton-Warberg opened the event by presenting the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s ‘Prevailing attitudes and behaviours in industry’, a study on small businesses' perceptions and implementation of ocean sustainable practices.

Drawing on practical experience and real-world examples, the speakers discussed how sustainability and ocean literacy can be embedded into day-to-day business operations. A panel discussion looked at practical experiences and ideas for small and medium-sized enterprises in coastal regions to engage with the Irish blue economy, exploring sector-specific challenges and opportunities in the Irish context. The event also featured Transition Year students, who created magazines inspired by Cobh’s coastal identity, ocean literacy, and sustainability. Youth voices are an important voice in the community, contributing to a growing community dialogue on climate action and ocean stewardship.

A networking reception at the Quays Bar closed the event, offering further opportunities for collaboration.

Looking Ahead

As the final workshop in the first series, the ‘All Atlantic’ event served both as a culmination and a springboard for future action. The insights gathered will help shape the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s next steps, including its upcoming intervention areas at the core of its Joint Calls. Both events delivered the same powerful message: from the highest levels of European policymaking to local engagement, the path to a sustainable Atlantic blue economy lies in cooperation.